Tab Hunter came out in 2005 after years of hiding as one of Hollywood’s closeted gay celebrities — and after the former ’50s heartthrob had seen other stars have their careers destroyed by scandal! In fact, Tab himself had nearly been sacrificed to save the career of Rock Hudson. The bitter star recalled how his former agent had sold him out to a Hollywood tabloid to protect his other closeted client. And while Tab survived the ’50s scandal, another leading man would have his career ruined!
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Tab recalled how Henry Willson had talked to to the
Confidential tabloid after learning
they were ready to out Rock Hudson — who, unlike Tab, had stayed in the legendary showbiz figure's stable of young men.
Photo credit: Mega
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In his autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential, Tab wrote of how Willson alerted the magazine to a previous arrest. "Specifically," wrote Tab, " he made them aware of the fact that five years earlier, before I was anybody, I had been arrested for disorderly conduct when police raided a party at which I — and a number of other gay people — were in attendance."
Photo credit: Mega
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The raid left Tab paying a $50 fine. But, said Tab, "
Confidential then ran the story on its cover and described it as 'a pajama party,' insinuating that it had been some sort of gay orgy." In a lucky break, however, the story came out just as
Photoplay had put Tab and
Natalie Wood on their cover as 1955's most popular new stars.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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"That probably saved my career," wrote Tab — but Willson's client Rory Calhoun had worse luck. Despite the actor staying loyal to his agent, Willson had also
given Confidential dirt on the Western star's troubled past to help get the Rock Hudson story killed.
Confidential soon had a bombshell story on Rory having once served hard time in San Quentin.
Photo credit: Mega
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Rory tried to salvage his career by giving interviews about his troubled past, but the Confidential scoop would leave him relegated to B-movies. Rock would remain a movie star. Tab was left to become more paranoid
about his secret romance with "Psycho" star Anthony Perkins. "When Tony and I went to the movies," Tab recalled, "we always wore baseball caps — or would go at different times!"
Photo credit: Mega
Tab recalled how Henry Willson had talked to to the
Confidential tabloid after learning
they were ready to out Rock Hudson — who, unlike Tab, had stayed in the legendary showbiz figure's stable of young men.
In his autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential, Tab wrote of how Willson alerted the magazine to a previous arrest. "Specifically," wrote Tab, " he made them aware of the fact that five years earlier, before I was anybody, I had been arrested for disorderly conduct when police raided a party at which I — and a number of other gay people — were in attendance."
The raid left Tab paying a $50 fine. But, said Tab, "
Confidential then ran the story on its cover and described it as 'a pajama party,' insinuating that it had been some sort of gay orgy." In a lucky break, however, the story came out just as
Photoplay had put Tab and
Natalie Wood on their cover as 1955's most popular new stars.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"That probably saved my career," wrote Tab — but Willson's client Rory Calhoun had worse luck. Despite the actor staying loyal to his agent, Willson had also
given Confidential dirt on the Western star's troubled past to help get the Rock Hudson story killed.
Confidential soon had a bombshell story on Rory having once served hard time in San Quentin.
Rory tried to salvage his career by giving interviews about his troubled past, but the Confidential scoop would leave him relegated to B-movies. Rock would remain a movie star. Tab was left to become more paranoid
about his secret romance with "Psycho" star Anthony Perkins. "When Tony and I went to the movies," Tab recalled, "we always wore baseball caps — or would go at different times!"
